Despite three good performances in Group 8 of the UEFA Under-17 Championship qualifying round, the Malta Under-17 side ended empty-handed following another narrow defeat – this time to Finland at the Stadion FK Srem in Jakovo, Serbia on Wednesday.
Niilo Mäenpää put Finland ahead on the 16th minute but Myles Beerman levelled matters on the 50th. However a penalty by Lucas Lingman two minutes later gave Finland a 2-1 win to finish their commitments ahead of Malta in the group.
Netherlands won Group 8 after defeating hosts Serbia 1-0 in another match on Wednesday.
FINLAND Hugo Keto, Joonas Sundman, Aapo Halme, William Lindqvist, Kaan Kairinen, Mikael Soisalo, Ansu Jr Sherrif (41′ Aapo Mäenpää), Lucas Lingman, Saikou Ceesay (52′ Saku Ylätupa)(80+2′ Oskar Sandström), Niilo Mäenpää, Kalle Salmi.
MALTA Timothy Aquilina, Nicholas Pulis, Nick Ghio, Matthew Guillaumier, Jean Borg, Aidan Friggieri, David Xuereb, Zachary Brincat, Kieran Xuereb (41′ Carlos Grech), Myles Beerman, Russell Fenech.
Referee: Svein-Erik Edvartsen (NOR)